Authors: Nayda Veeman
Collection: Research Materials
The author submitted this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Educational Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. The study sought to understand policy factors underlying the differences between the literacy levels of Canadian and Swedish adults as reported in the International Adult Literacy Survey.
Added: 2004-11-12
Education Matters: Insights on Education, Learning and Training in Canada, April 2008, Vol. 5, No. 1
Series: Education Matters - Statistics Canada
Authors: Kathryn McMullen
Collection: Research Materials
This article, published by Statistics Canada, provides an analysis of some findings from the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (IALLS).
The results indicate that those with the highest levels of literacy participate in adult learning at much higher rates than those at the lowest levels of literacy. The implication is that those most in need of learning to enhance their skills to compete in the labour market are least likely to participate in education and training opportunities.
Family background also plays a key role in participation in adult learning. People who grew up in families where literacy is valued tend to think positively about adult education.
The author notes that financial support from employers plays a central role in supporting opportunities for adult education and training. However, participation in employer-sponsored training is not equal across groups of workers, and workers with the least education are also least likely to participate in training.
Added: 2012-04-18
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Series: State of the Field Report
Authors: B. Allan Quigley, Sue Folinsbee, Wendy L. Kraglund-Gauthier
Collection: Research Materials
This study, prepared under the auspices of the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL), is one of a series of reports on the state adult learning in Canada. The reports were intended to offer a knowledge baseline for the Adult Learning Knowledge Centre, which had recently been established at the University of New Brunswick.
The authors reviewed and analyzed information from databases, bibliographies, websites, and publications. As well as offering general observations on literacy, they organized their findings according to specific themes of Aboriginal literacy; English as a Second Language (ESL) and First Language Literacy; Francophone literacy; women and literacy; health literacy; family literacy; corrections literacy; literacy and work; learning disabilities and literacy; and technologies and literacy.
The document also includes detailed information about the methodology used; notes about gaps in available data; and suggestions for further study.
Added: 2006-08-08
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Authors: Grant Johnston
Collection: Research Materials
This paper looks at whether an increase in the basic literacy skills of adults would have a positive effect on the New Zealand economy. It finds good evidence for the benefits of literacy: studies
consistently find that adults with better literacy skills are more likely to be employed, and to earn more, than those with poorer literacy skills, even when taking account of other factors which affect work performance.
There is little rigorous evidence, however, for the benefits of adult literacy training and almost no accompanying information on the costs of this training.
While there is a good case for an increased focus on adult literacy, and on workplace literacy in particular, these findings suggest a cautious approach to expanding publicly-funded adult literacy programmes.
There is a clear need for more and better New Zealand-based research, for piloting innovative literacy programmes and for undertaking good-quality evaluations. A modest increase in literacy training may not materially affect economic performance.
Added: 2006-04-11
Authors: Lisa Langille
Collection: Research Materials
This is a thesis submitted to Acadia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Degree of Master of Education (Curriculum Studies). It discusses a study undertaken to explore how adult literacy educators perceive computer technology integration.
Added: 2005-06-20
The International Adult Literacy Survey Results
Authors: Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Ontario)
Collection: Research Materials
In 1990, Statistics Canada released the results of the Survey of Literacy Skills Used in Daily Activities (LSUDA), a 1989 Canada-wide survey of the reading skills of adults. In 1992, the then Ontario Ministry of Education reported on the LSUDA results for Ontario (Stan Jones, Survey of Adult Literacy in Ontario).
Shortly after the release of the LSUDA results in Canada and those of the National Adult Literacy Survey in the United States, interest in a comparative international study of adult literacy began to grow. In December 1995, the first results of the 1994 survey of adult literacy in seven countries, the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), were reported in Literacy, Economy and Society, a joint publication of Statistics Canada and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In September 1996, Statistics Canada released Reading the Future: A Portrait of Literacy in Canada, a report on the national data collected in IALS.
To measure literacy in IALS, respondents answered a set of test questions designed to measure adult reading skills as well as background questions about their education, work experience and literacy practices.
Ontario participated in the survey in order to gain key data to inform policy development and to focus its literacy programming. The present report covers in detail the IALS results for Ontario. It updates and supplements the previous report, Survey of Adult Literacy in Ontario. It is organized much as the previous report with a table, graph and commentary for each of the major literacy relationships. Throughout the text, shaded boxes provide background information. Usually the tables provide results for three scales -- prose, document and quantitative -- but the graphs are used to point to particularly interesting results in part of the data.
Added: 2007-05-11
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Authors: Richard Darville
Collection: Research Materials
Adult Literacy Work in Canada provides a map of the state of literacy work in Canada, which identifies key issues in literacy for the 1990's. This study is offered as a stimulus to informed discussion and debate on literacy questions in various Canadian jurisdictions. It is also intended as a contribution to maintain the level of public awareness developed during 1990, International Literacy Year.
Ideas in the report have developed in many discussions among literacy practitioners and advocates. Many governmental policy documents and reports, and a number of civil servants, have been consulted. Some information has been drawn from a survey conducted by the Canadian Alliance for Literacy, a coalition of national organizations that seek to promote a more literate Canada. Reports of provincial and territorial representatives to the Movement for Canadian Literacy Board have been very helpful.
Adult Literacy Work in Canada is part of a larger project to enhance public understanding of the stake of Canadians in a literate society.
Funders:
Added: 2004-07-30
Pre-School to Adult
Series: Annotated Bibliography of Aboriginal Books
Authors: NWT Literacy Council
Collection: Research Materials
Over the years, many people have asked us to put together a package of information on Aboriginal literature that is suitable for different age groups. That task, however, is not particularly easy. An extensive array of material is available nowadays, but should it all be included in such a list?
Considerable debate surrounds what is sometimes called “appropriation of voice” – when a person, no matter how sympathetic, depicts someone from another culture. We can only say that we have tried our best to be selective, and appreciate any feedback that people might have about our list.
Added: 2006-05-19
Series: Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) - Fourth Biennial Conference
Authors: Michel Gauthier, Julian Evetts
Collection: Research Materials
Michel presented a new tool called “Assessing the Complexity of Literacy Tasks.” It is designed to help document designers understand the ability levels of readers as defined in the International Adult Literacy Survey. This complexity-rating tool, based on the work of Irwin Kirsh and Peter Mosenthal, can help information designers ensure that the level of complexity of public information matches the literacy level of the target readers. It complements plain language techniques and can deal with some of the shortfalls of readability formulas based on school grade levels.
Added: 2003-03-06
Some thoughts for the PLAIN conference, Toronto 2002
Series: Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) - Fourth Biennial Conference
Authors: Peter Butt
Collection: Research Materials
In a panel discussion chaired by Joseph Kimble, Brian Hunt and Peter Butt argued the assumptions behind the use of plain legal language. Brian posed the questions: Is there really a demand for plain language legislation? Would plain language legislation function as intended? Peter presented evidence from recent research supporting the claim that plain language benefits legal documents and statutes.
Added: 2003-03-14
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